Tell www.HorseOwnerToday.com how long you been playing music? When did your career start to take off?

I began playing music when I was fourteen years old. I grew up on a small farm just outside of Archerwill, Saskatchewan. My mom had kept a guitar in her closet for years and one day I started teaching myself to play and sing. My career started to take new direction when I met producer Steve Fox from Nashville, he gave me the opportunity to record my first CD “The Road Ahead” in Music City as well as the sophomore album “Spin 6-PAK Vol.1”. It was a great experience and it helped me take the next step in my career by making new connections in the music business.

www.HorseOwnerToday.com would like to know about your accomplishments – albums, awards, recognition outside of Sask. etc?

2005 – “The Road Ahead” was released

2006 – SCMA Rising Star Award, SCMA Album Of The Year Award

2008 – “SPIN 6-PAK Vol. “1 was released

2009 – SCMA “Single of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Entertainer of the Year”, “Backup Band of the Year”, “Male Vocalist of the Year”, “Album of the Year”⁃ Opened for Aaron Pritchett, Emerson Drive, The Oakridge Boys, Michelle Wright, Doc Walker, and Gord Bamford⁃ Invited to perform at SXSW Showcase by Country Line Magazine in Austin, Texas⁃ Top ten finalist for the 2006 CCMA Chevy Truck Rising Star Award in ⁃ Showcased at the 2009 CCMA’S in Winnipeg⁃ “Spin” won Song of The Year at the Independent Music Awards in America⁃ Cover story of the Country Music News⁃ Grammy Award winner Randy Kohrs recorded my song “Quicksand” and made it the title track to his new CD. He as well performed it on the Grand Ole Opry.⁃ Ellen featured a birthday song I wrote for her on her website

2010 – Releasing 3rd Album “Get Loud”- Filmed and released first music video “Rolling Back To You”- Awarded 2010 SCMA “Male Vocalist of the Year” and “Entertainer of the Year”

You wrote a Happy Birthday song for Ellen that was featured on the front page of her website. Where did you come up for the idea for this? What was your reaction when you saw it on the front page? Did you hear from Ellen’s staff or get a response from them in any way?

I had gotten the idea from my publicist Irene Carroll. She was contacted by Ellen's people that she was looking for the best Canadian birthday wish so she mentioned to me that I should write Ellen a song. I sent Irene the song about an hour later. We shot a video of me singing the song and uploaded it onto YouTube. I then contacted my fan base to test out the idea of “six degrees of separation”. Well I guess it worked it was about four days later Ellen posted my video on the front page of her website I was so excited. I never did hear from the staff but it really was an honor having a video on her site!

What role has social media played in your career? Social media has been a huge tool for me as an independent artist. I use it all the time. It's great to be able to log in and chat with your fans one on one, post videos, and let them know what your up to in a matter of seconds. It has been a huge learning curve and continues to be but I am very intrigued by the Internet and it’s amazing capabilities. We live in an age where you do not really need a major label deal anymore to have a very successful career. With a great database and a strong online presence it gives independent artists a chance to compete with the major label artists on a much more level playing field. I see it playing a huge role in my career for many years to come.

What advice would you give other young artists starting out?The one thing I would tell them is to have a plan. I recommend writing down on paper your five-year goals. Where you see yourself in five years and what do you have to do to get there. The old saying is “If You Fail To Plan, You Plan To Fail”. So if you really believe in what your doing and want to build a career make a plan.

www.HorseOwnerToday.com would like to know what your plans for the future – tours, etc?2010 is shaping up to be a very busy year. I just finished recording my new album, which will be released this June. We filmed a video for the first single “Rolling Back To You” which was just released to Country Radio and television networks across North America. We are performing at the Calgary Stampede, Craven Country Jamboree, Havelock Country Jamboree, Manitoulin Country fest, and many more across Canada this summer. I am working on putting a fall tour together of about 25 shows and then we are planning a 2010 Christmas tour that will start mid November. A lot of great things happening this year and I am really thankful for it all.

What role has public funding played in your career?As an independent artist it is often a struggle financially to do tours, albums, websites, etc. Public funding such as the Sask Arts Board has helped me tremendously. Without the help from organizations like that it would be almost impossible for independent artist to build a career in the music industry. I feel so fortunate that we have organizations such as the Sask Arts Board helping us do what we as artists love to do and that's create music.

If music is what you love to do go for it. Life is way to short to do something that makes you unhappy. Believe in yourself and stay true to what's important to you...Codie Prevost